The “Self-Study Report of the Department of Linguistics” in May 1978 stated that their “highest priority [had] been for a Navajo linguist to shore up the Navajo language program in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and to respond to the generalized demand for general linguistics and educational linguistics expertise on this major regional language.”

The Navajo Language Program continued to be in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, but, for various reasons, the department planned to drop Navajo altogether in 1979. However, they received letters from renowned scholars petitioning them to continue classes: Voeglin wrote letters to UNM president of the day: “I urge you to reinstate the Navajo Language position within the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at the University of New Mexico.” Barre Toelken and Ken Hale also wrote letters.